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Robert Glasper hotly tipped jazz cat

He’s the hotly tipped jazz cat whose new album is more pop than bop. Robert Glasper explains all to John Bungey

John Bungey

March 2 2012, 12:01am, The Times

Robert Glasper, ex-church organist not averse to jazz heresyMike Schreiber

Pianist Robert Glasper is singing a snatch of a familiar song in an unfamiliar fashion. “With the lights out, it’s less dangerous; here we are now, entertain us,” he croons in the pure tones of someone who once spent a lot of time in church. “I always loved that tune. It’s so melodic for me. It sounds like a classical piece and I wanted to reveal how beautiful it actually is.”

You can see his point. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Kurt Cobain’s burst of inchoate rage, is alchemised into a fragile melody that floats over drifting piano on his new album, Black Radio. Stuttering beats and wandering electronica barge out any risk of schmaltz.